Railroad-switch.



No. 884,792. PATBNTED'APR, 14, 1908. T. J. BURKE. RAILROAD SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 5 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WlizeaeS/ mar/zed JZBar/Z'e .PATENTED APR. 14, 1908.

-T. J. BURKE. RAILROAD SWITCH. APPLIOA TIQH. FILED AUG. 5, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I 12206 22 01 -Wazrraw c/ijBur/fe THOMAS J. BURKE, OF NEW ORLEANS,LOUISIANA.

RAILROAD-SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 14, 1908.

Application filed August 5, 1907. Serial No. 387,082.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. BURKE, a citizen of the United States,residing at New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State ofLouisiana, have invented new and useful Improvements inRailroad-Switches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to switch operating mechanism for cars, andpertains particularly to that type of track switch throwing mechanismwhereby a motorman can actuate the switch from his station at thecontrolling apparatus for the car, thus rendering it unnecessary for himto dismount and throw the switch when desired to turn from the main lineor track into a branch line, cross over, turn out, or the like.

The mechanism embodying the features of the invention and conjointlycontributing to a successful switching operation is carried in part bythe car and partially disposed between the track rails on which the carhas movement, the track rails includinga switch rail or tongue withwhich a portion of the mechanism is operatively connected.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of partswhich will be more fully hereinafter specified in preferred form.

The primary object of the invention is to simplify switch operatingmechanism of this class and to positively dispose the switch throwingelements carried by the car eitherinto operative or inoperativepositions and prevent a motorman from carelessly or insufficientlyactuating the switch throwing mechanism under his control on the car.

A further object of the invention is to insure a positive disposition ofswitch throwing mechanism carried by a car and under the control of themotorman with relation to switch operating means located in a track bedand over which the car is adapted to move.

For the purpose of demonstrating a practical embodiment of theinvention, the switch operating means directly coacting with the switchrail will be hereinafter described as being located centrally withrespect to the main track rails, and the switch throwing devices carriedby the car will also be specified as being centrally located on theplatform of the car, but this exact disposition of the entire mechanismis not essential, it being possible to arrange the switch operatingmeans at one side of the trackrail and correspondingly situate thethrowing mechanism on the view of a portion of a railway track systemshowing a switch rail and means for actuating the latter. Fig. 2 is aside elevation of a portion of the track system shown by Fig. 1 and apart of a car embodying. the features of the invention. Fig. 3 is anenlarged section on the line 33, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectionon the line 4-4, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a top plan View of a portion of theplatform of the car showing the improved switch throwing mechanismcarried thereby partially in section. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectionalview of a portion of the platform of the car showing the switch throwingmechanism applied thereto and represented in two positions in full anddotted lines, the bearing hanger for a part of the switch throwingmechanism being shown in section. Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view showingin elevation the switch throwing mechanism carried by the car and theswitch rail or tongue actuating mechanism, in operative relation.

Similar characters of reference are. employed to indicate correspondingparts in the views.

The numeral 1 designates a main track, and 2 a supplementary trackconnected to the main track by rails 3 in the ordinary manner. Thesupplementary track 2 may be either a siding or a component of a doubletrack system. A part of the rails 3 coijperates with a frog 4, in whichis mounted a switch tongue 5. Projecting from the frog 4 is a base plate6, having a bearing 7 rising therefrom and suitably apertured to movablyreceive one extremity of the transversely extending rod 8, the oppositeextremity of the said rod having sliding movement in a flange 9 of theplate 6, the said flange being located adjacent to the switch tongue 5.Terminally secured to the frog 4, and the upper end of the bearing 7, isa transversely extending cover plate 10, having a longitudinal slot 11formed therein. The rod 8 is located directly beneath the slot 11, andthereon are set collars or stop devices 12,

- located between the bearing 7 and flange 9.

A block 13 is loosely slidable on the rod 8 between the collars or stopdevices 12, the said rod centrally engaging the block, and

between the opposite ends of the block and the collars or stop devices12, springs 14 are mounted on therod 8, and operate to return the blockto normal position between the said collars or stop devices and also tocushion said block and the rod 8. The plate 6 has a pair of u standingribs 15 extending longitudinally t iereover and spaced a suitabledistance, and the block 13 has grooves 16 in its lower side to engagethe said ribs. The block 13 is freely slida'ble on the ribs, and byemploying the said ribs friction on the block is greatly reduced. Risingfrom the block 13 and movably extending through the slot 11 in the coverplate 10, is a post or stud 17, having an antifrictional roller 18mounted on the upper extremity thereof above the said cover plate.Connected to the post or stud 17 below the roller 18, and movabletherewith, is a dust-guard or plate 19, which is of such dimensions asto always extend over the slot 11, irrespective of the movement thereof.The rod 8 is connected at one end to the switch tongue 5, .and as theblock 13 is moved in opposite directions over the rod 8, it acts throughthe springs 14 to correspondingly throw the switch tongue. It will benoted that the block 13 does not have any tendency to bend the rod 8when actuated, in view of the fact that the said rod projects centrallythrough the block, and the atter is loose on the rod. Furthermore, theblock 13 is prevented from having irregular movement by the ribs 15, andhence wear on the cooperating parts is prevented and the durabilitythereof increased.

The switch throwing mechanism is carried by the platform 20 of the carclose .to the dash-board 21, and consists of a vertically movable,freely rotatable shaft or staff 22, having fixed to the lower endthereof a flat foot 23, which always stands at an angle with respect tothe said shaft. The foot 23 is preferably a flat plate of suitable hardmetal, and the opposite faces thereof are adapted to contact withdiametrically opposite portions of the antifrictional roller 18.Theshaft or staff 22 moves through a hanger 24 depending from theunderside of the platform 20 of the car, and secured on the said shaftor staff is a collar 25, which serves to engage one extremity of adepressing spring 26, surrounding the shaft between the collar 25 andthe bottom of the platform 20 of the car. When the shaft or staff 22 isreleased, the spring immediately forces the same downwardly to bring thefoot 23 in operative relation to the roller 18 on the post or stud 17 ofthe block 13, andv the collar 25 will contact with the bottom of thehanger 24 and prevent the foot 23 from being depressed too great adistance or below a predetermined plane of depress1on.

The shaft or staff 22 has vertical sliding movement and rotation in alocking plate 27,

. secured on the upper portion of the platform 20, and also engages afixed guide sleeve or collar 28 secured to and projecting rear- Wardlyfrom the dash-board 21, and'in alinement with the locking plate 27. Onthe upper end of the shaft or staff 22, a head 29 is secured, the saidupper end of the shaft being squared or formed angular in cross section,and the head having a correspondingly shaped bore or openingtherethrough to receive the shaft 8. The upper extremity of the shafthas free vertical movement through the head, and the latter may bereadily rotated on the sleeve or collar 28, and when rotated it isobvious that the shaft or staff will be turned in a like direction. Ahandle or grip 30 is provided and formed with a yoked extremity 31,which is pivoted to the head 29 and has links 32 movably'attached toopposite portions thereof and to the shaft or staff below the sleeve orcollar 28. By throwing the said grip or handle 30 in opposite directionsover the upper end of the shaft or staff, the latter will be elevatedand released for depression by the spring 26. When the grip or handle 30is thrown inwardly, the shaft or staff 22 will be free for depression bythe spring 26, and when the handle or grip is thrown outwardly inreverse directions and over the center of the upper extremity of theshaft or staff, and forwardly beyond the said 5 center, the shaft orstaff will be elevated against the resistance of the spring 26 andbecome locked against accidental depression, in view of the position ofthe handle or grip a forward direction, and the tension of the saidspring 26, which then acts to hold the handle or grip in closeengagement with the upper edge of the dash-board 21.

The shaft or staff 22 works in an opening 32 in the plate 27, andradiating from said 5 opening and communicating therewith are two slots33 and 34, to receive a splineor feather 35 projecting rearwardly fromthe shaft or staff and operating to prevent the latter from rotating,and thereby hold the foot 23 in either one of two adjusted positions. Bythus holding the foot in rigid adj-usted position, .a reliable contactwith the antifrictional roller 18 carried by the block 13, and apositive movement of the said 5 block are insured. To prevent the shaft.or staff 22 from being turned too far to the right or left, the lockingplate 27 has abutments or stops 36 rising therefrom adjacent to theouter walls of the said slots 33 .and 341, and between the said slots isa boss 37, which serves as a guard and has -0 posite inclined facesterminating coincident y with the inner walls of the slots to cause thespline35 to positively pass downwardly into either one or the other ofsaid slots when the shaft or staff is released for depression, andwithout requiring precise attention or accurate manipulation on the partof the motorman.

From the foregoing description, the operation will -be readilyunderstood, andwhen a car is moving over the main track 1 in thedirection of the arrow, and it is desired to pass through thesupplementary track 2, the shaft or staff 22 is set to bring the foot 23against the right-hand portion of the roller 18, and owing to theangular position of the foot, the block 13 andthe switch tongue 5 willbe thrown to the left, and thus open the switch and connect themaintrack with the supplementary track through the rails 3. Should aniotorman make a mistake and open the switch when he desired to keep onthe main track, a backward movement of the car will cause the foot 23 toengage the roller 18 at an opposite point and close the switch tongue,so that all a motorman would have to do after passing backwardly overthe switch would be to raise the shaft or staff and regularly proceedover the main track. In the event that the switch tongue is open whenapproached in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 1, the shaft orstaff 22 is turned so as to bring the foot 23 into an opposite angularposition or to first engage the left hand portion of the roller 18,which will result in closing the switch tongue by moving the block 13over towards the right.- hen the shaft or staff 22 is adjusted to causethe foot 23 to engage the roller 18 on the right, the spline 35 isseated in the slot 34, and when said spline is caused to engage the slot33 the opposite portion of the roller will be engaged by the foot 23.

The advantages of the improved switch mechanism are manifold, and amongothers may be mentioned the facility with which the same may be appliedto a car and track without materially modifying the structure of eitherorganization. Cars now in use can be readily equipped with the shaft orstaff 22 and cooperating devices, and all that is necessary to add to atrack-system is the support,- ing means for the block 13.

In addition to the advantages specified in the use of the switchoperating mechanism, in connection with surface tracks, it may also beapplied to underground electric systems for throwing the switches of thelatter, and in this particular application it will be only necessary tolocate the mechanism as shown directly cooperating with the switchtongue below the surface of a track bed or in a conduit and connect upthe same to underground switch means.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed, is:

1. In a mechanism of the class specified, the combination with a trackhaving a switch tongue, of a rod connected to' said tongue, a blockmovable on the rod and having a projection for shifting the same inopposite directions, the rod passing centrally through the block, a baseand top covering means between which the block is confined, the sides ofthe block being unengaged, and means carried by a car for engaging thesaid proj ection.

2. In a mechanism of the class specified, the combination with a trackhaving a switch tongue, of a transversely movable rod connected to theswitch tongue, a block slidably disposed on the rod and provided withaprojection, yielding devices interposed between opposite portions of theblock and the rod, the rod extending centrally through the block, a baseand top covering means between which the block is confined, the sides ofthe block being unengaged, and means carried by a car for engaging thesaid projection.

3. In a mechanism of the class specified, the combination with a trackhaving a switch tongue, of a rod connected to the said tongue, a blockslidably mounted on the rod and shiftable in opposite directions to openand close the said tongue, a plate over the block and rod and having aslot through which a part of the block extends, the rod extendingcentrally through the block, a bearing means engaging the underside ofthe block the sides of the block being unengaged, and means carried by acar for contacting with the portion of the block projecting through theslot.

4. In a mechanism of the class specified, the combination with mainrails, switch rails, and a switch point or tongue, of a horizontal rodconnected to the point or tongue and working in suitable guides, asliding block loosely mounted on the rod, the latter extending centrallythrough the block, springs applied to the rod on opposite sides of theblock, a vertically adjustable device carried by a car platform andhaving a foot member adapted to engage a portionof the said block, andmeans for positively locking said device in its adjusted and raised andlowered positions.

5. In a mechanism of the class specified, the combination with maintrack rails, switch rails, and a switch point or tongue, of a horizontalrod connected with the said point or tongue, guides for the rod, a blocka plied centrally to the rod and loose on the atter, the rod extendingcentrally through the block, the latter having upper and lower confining devices and unengaged at its opposite sides, and springs arrangedon the rod on opposite sides of said block, the latter having an upwardprojection adapted for operative engagement with a manually controlledmechanism on a car.

6. In a mechanism of the class specified, the combination with maintrack rails, switch rails, and a switch tongue, of an inclosing meansembodying a lower plate or support with bearing devices, and a top orcover plate with a longitudinal slot therein, the lower plate havingribs thereon, a rod horizontally mounted in the said lower plate andconnected to the switch tongue, a block loosely mounted on the rod andhaving a projection extending through the slot in the cover plate andalso provided with bottom grooves to engage the said ribs, ananti-frictional roller carried on the said projection, a dust guardcarried by the projection and movable therewith, yielding devices on therod and engaging opposite sides of the block, and depending meanscarried by a car for engaging the said roller.

7. In a mechanism of the class specified, the combination with switchdevices including a switch tongue and means for moving the same, of acar having a vertically movable shaft with a lower foot and anintermediate spline, a locking plate engaged by the shaft and havingspaced slots therein to receive the spline, and a grip device movablyconnected to the upper end of the shaft.

8. In a mechanism of the class specified, the combination with switchdevices including a switch tongue and means for moving the same, of acar having a vertically movable and rotatable shaft with a lower flatfoot member and an intermediate spline, a locking plate on the carthrough which the shaft extends, the locking plate having spaced slotsand abutments adjacent the outer walls of the slots, a guard withopposite inclined faces being disposed between the slots, and a gripdevice movably disposed on the upper eX- tremity of the shaft.

9. In a mechanism of the class specified, the combination with switchdevices including a switch tongue and means for moving the same, of acar having a vertically movable and rotatable shaft with a lower footand an intermediate spline, a locking plate through which the shaftextends and having spaced slots therein to receive the said spline, aspring means on the shaft tending to depress the latter when released,and a handle or grip device movably connected to the upper end of theshaft for raising and lowering the said shaft and serving, when thrownover the upper end of the shaft in one direction, to prevent the shaftfrom accidentally lowering or being thrown downwardly by the springmeans.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing wit- 11GSSSJ THOMAS J. BURKE. lVitnesses CHAS. S. HYER,JAMES L. NORRIS, Jr.

